Once again the band had another busy, eventful year. With a mix of parades and concerts entertaining the public where ever we went! This is a summary of our year as I seen it!

With New Years Day being a Tuesday, our first practice of 2008 was the following Tuesday 8th January. Having finished the recording of our first CD late in 2007, work began on our piece for the Own Choice Contest to be held on Saturday 23rd February, in Lisburn. As usual we were playing a march and an other piece. The march was Steadfast and True. The other item was a selection from the musical ‘Les Miserables’. As a band we decided this year to depart from the usual selections, like Autumn Leaves and so on, and do something different, something which we would enjoy! It also meant that we were learning something entertaining which we would be able to use again at concerts. On the day the band played well and received good remarks from the adjudicator. With possibly the smallest numbers on stage in our grade, we were just not good enough. Kellswater came in first, followed in second place by Ballymena Young Conquerors. As always the band enjoyed the rest of the day before returning home to Londonderry.

Following the contest it was onward to learn and practice selections for the annual St Patricks Day Celebrations in the Memorial Hall, at which the band always perform! Playing a few selections of jigs and some of the pieces which we had recorded for our CD, and as tradition is for us finishing off with Killaloe!

April proved to be a busy month for the band. On the 5th a number of the Officers and Members of the band travelled to the NIBA Dinner Dance in Ballygowan. Arriving almost fashionably late, we eventually made it. Having nearly taken wrong turnings, thanks to a certain member who I won’t name travelling in the car I was in!! It was a special night for one band member in particular. Jackie Mitchell received his 50 year medal during the night, which goes to show the dedication he has shown to the band. He fully deserved his medal for all the service he has given to us, and still continues to give. The night was a success for the Flute Band League and hopefully we will attend this event in 2009. The evening was followed by a long drive home in snowy, wintry conditions, Knowing the next day that I would have to drive the same route again the next morning!

This was because the 6th saw four members of the bands percussion section travelling to Ballynahinch for the Percussive Arts Society Percussion Day. We travelled by car with me driving, and almost like the night before got lost due to the previously mentioned nameless person trying to give directions!! Must buy him a map sometime! Although it was a long journey, it proved well worth it, highlight for me being the percussionists from the Royal Air Force.

Saturday 12th April saw a flute quartet enter the annual FBL competition held in Ballygowan. This year the quartet consisted of Jamie Foster (G Treble), Jenny Boyd (Concert), Wendy Wilson (Concert) and Craig Collins (Alto). With no one else entering it was only gaining a good score that mattered and with a credible 86 points they won!

One week later, the 19th, and it was the turn of the Drum Corps! Its usually at this time that a friendly rivalry develops between our talented flautists and superb drummers!! It always adds pressure if the week before the flautists have come away with a trophy. This year however when we arrived we quickly learnt that no other band had entered a corps! We were disappointed that we wouldn’t directly have to compete with anyone but still knew we had to play well enough to impress the adjudicator! The Drum Corp consisted of Alistair Thompson, David Thompson and Gordon Porter on side drum, Trevor Stewart on cymbals and Steven Foster on bass drum. We won, unsurprisingly after weeks of hard work, but were further disappointed that as we were the only competitors the judge on the day felt that points were not necessary! We would have liked an idea how well we had played. Both Flautists and Drummers now have something to retain in 2009.

May held the first parade for the band leading the Royal Naval Association, Battle of the Atlantic Parade, from the Services Club, Spencer Road, to All Saints Clooney Church of Ireland. After the service the band paraded back with the Association to the Services Club once again. Some of the crew of HMS Bullwark also were in attendance, and gave a generous donation to the band.

On Tuesday 13th the band played an open air concert in Caw, for the local community association, playing for roughly an hour, we performed many of the pieces from our new CD which we had recently received, and were now able to sell.

On the 8th June the band was back at what we do best, on parade of course! Newbuildings was the venue for Newbuildings Victoria LOL1087’s Annual Sunday Service, an engagement the band is happy to partake in every year.

In between this time, after tireless work from our fundraisers, we received a new Treble G flute and new Alto flute. These new acquisitions were of great importance to the band. With the Treble G costing £3500 and Alto nearly £1500 you can understand how endeted we were to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland for granting us funding to purchase these much needed instruments. The have added so much to the band in terms of quality in sound that we dont know how we managed before hand.

The 14th June saw a special occasion for the band. The launch of our first ever recording in 173 years of banding. The evening held in the Memorial Hall, the bands home now for many years, consisted of performances from our close friends the William King Memorial Flute Band and ourselves. Entertainment after the official launch was provided by Hudson Blue and the night was thoroughly enjoyed by the band and supporters alike! A big night for the band. You never know we might do another CD within the next couple of years!

June 21st saw the band holding a workshop in the afternoon to bring young people along to play flute and percussion. The day was a success with a dozen or so children taking part. As a band it is important for us to introduce youth to ensure that the band can continue in the future years ahead. That evening the band attended Ballyrashane Protestant Flute Band’s 100th Anniversary Parade, in Coleraine. The ‘White Army’ as they are affectionately known were out in force that night and it was a pleasure to be in attendence at their parade.

July 2nd saw the band back in Newbuildings for LOL1087’s annual Somme Parade and Service. This year the band were not on parade but played as a concert band before and after the religious service, including a vocal performance of Green Fields of France.

This year it was the turn of Macosquin District to host the Twelfth celebrations in Coleraine. Having paraded the Maiden City on Sunday 6th July with the Orange Order for their Annual Sunday Service, this was one of the biggest days of the year. The day began as always with the band parading in Culmore leading Culmore True Blues LOL1866 first thing in the morning. Then we paraded through Londonderry City Centre to our busses for Coleraine. After our return in the evening we paraded back through Londonderry to the Memorial Hall. As always the Churchill were well turned out and disciplined in the street. This together with the usual high standard of playing made the day all the more enjoyable!

The 26th July the band made our way to Ballymoney for the annual parade of Dunloy Accordian Band. This is always a great event supported from all over Northern Ireland and further afield! The band always enjoy parading in Ballymoney and the warm reception we get there.

August brings one of the largest parades in the year with the Apprentice Boys of Derry Relief celebrations held on the 9th in 2008, in Londonderry. As in the last few years the band paraded the historic City Walls before parading to the war memorial for the wreath laying ceremony. Then onto the Cathedral, prior to the main parade in the afternoon. This is the biggest event in the City, so is one of the most important for the band, and is one of the most enjoyable as well!

The end of August brings about the annual Royal Black Preceptory Sunday service, which in 2008 was held on the 24th and on the 30th Black Saturday itself, which was held in Londonderry.

Into September and planning was almost complete for a Charity Night, organised to raise funds for Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie Cancer Care. Held on the 20th of the month, in the Mem we were again happy to have the William King Memorial Flute Band playing at this event and also our good friends the Millar Memorial Flute Band, who made the journey down from Belfast to play and then enjoy the rest of the entertainment. Maiden City Beat also played amix of traditional and popular music, followed by ‘The Bizz’. Also a huge thanks that night goes to Patricia our beauty therapist who had the job of waxing some of the male band members and some of the Millar Memorial as well!! The evening was a great success raising around £1000.00 for each charity.

September 21st saw the band lead the Ulster Special Constabulary ‘B Specials’ Association Parade in Londonderry to and from All Saints Clooney Church Of Ireland. The band has very close historic links with the B Specials being one of two bands used by the B Specials during their time in service, so this parade was an important one for the band. Playing the Londonderry Command March Past (Young May Moon and Derry’s Walls) passing the saluting base.

October 25th We set off for Armagh for the North of Ireland Bands Association set piece Band Contest. The piece to be played was ‘Putsa’ and once again the band performed well under the direction of Chris Wright, conducting the band for the purpose of the contest, and winning the interpretation prize as well! The band finished in second place achieving 96 points, only one point behind the winners Ballymena Young Conquerors.

November 8th The band were in Belfast for the annual Remembrance Parade organised by the Apprentice Boys Of Derry. Marching the streets of the Capital City to the cenotaph by City Hall is an honour the band continue to look forward to each year. A very special and sombre occasion for all members of the band.

Into the last month of the year and on a cold December day the band were on show again with the Apprentice Boys. The 6th was the Shutting of the Gates celebrations containing the parade followed by the burning of an effigy of Lundy. Every year this marks the close of engagements for the band until early in the next year.

This year following the homecoming parade of the Royal Irish Regiment, Irish Guards and other Irish and supporting regiments, the Ulster Bands Forum released ‘Soldiers Return’. A CD comprising tracks from various bands throughout the United Kingdom. We are one of the bands to have a track featured from our new CD. Killaloe and the Regimental was selected and the Cds have been selling well so far. All proceeds go to the Royal Irish Regiment Benevolent Fund so once again the band are helping to support a very worthwhile cause.

With such an eventful and successful year for the band over now, we look forward to the challenges the new year brings. With some things planned for 2009 it will be a case of watch this space! A huge thank you goes to all the friends and supporters of the band throughout 2008. Hopefully 2009 will be just as good for the Churchill Flute Band.

Trevor Stewart